Sunderland 0 Blackpool 2

Sunderland were made to pay the ultimate price for a series of embarrassing misses as Blackpool's DJ Campbell helped maintain the newly-promoted Tangerines' spectacular start to the life in the Premier League. The player, who first tasted top flight action when Black Cats boss Steve Bruce brought him to Birmingham City, scored twice in the second half to earn his side yet another win on the road. Sunderland manager Steve Bruce was able to draft the in-form Lee Cattermole and Danny Welbeck straight back into the starting line-up for this afternoon's Barclays Premier League clash with Blackpool. Skipper Cattermole missed the Boxing Day trip to Manchester United through suspension, while Welbeck was ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement with the Old Trafford club. They were joined by David Meyler as Cristian Riveros, Steed Malbranque and Bolo Zenden dropped to the bench alongside Titus Bramble, who was included after six weeks out with a knee injury. Blackpool manager Ian Holloway replaced the suspended Charlie Adam with Ludovic Sylvestre and was also able to call upon a long-term absentee as Alex Baptiste returned to the bench after knee surgery with the Seasiders tasting action for the first time since December 11. The game, assistant referee Sian Massey's first in the Premier League, began at a brisk tempo with the home side attempting to make an early impact in the wake of their 2-0 defeat at United.

It was Blackpool who took the lead with 52 minutes gone after Phillips forced Bardsley to concede a right-wing corner.David Vaughan played the corner short to Neil Eardley, who cut inside on to his left foot to send in a cross which Ian Evatt flicked on for Campbell to volley home from close range. The visitors might have increased their lead within a minute when Phillips fired in a rasping shot which flew just wide of Gordon's right post. Sunderland were stung back into life and launched a series of raids deep into enemy territory, but too often their final ball lacked the required quality to trouble Kingson and his defenders. There was little wrong with Henderson's firmly-struck 58th-minute cross to the near post, by Gyan could not keep the ball down as he slid in to meet it. Bruce immediately made his move when he replaced Meyler with Kieran Richardson in the search for greater creativity. However, the visitors might have increased their lead twice within a minute as the home side wilted. (Daily Mail)

Holloway's laughing but his slick side are no joke after Stoke win

Ian Holloway thought he looked resplendent, until a fan pointed at his grey overcoat with black felt lapels and bellowed: 'You look like an undertaker.' If it was meant to ruffle Blackpool's irrepressible boss, it failed dismally. With a look of mock indignation, he said: 'Cut me to the core, it did. I think I look quite smart, and I'm going to carry on wearing it.' Holloway can see the funny side more often than not, but he draws the line at the way his side were supposed to be dead and buried before a ball had been kicked. 'That did hurt,' he said, after seeing Blackpool's slick passing rewarded with a 48th-minute winner from DJ Campbell at Stoke on Saturday. 'It hurt me and the players to see some people predicting we'd be the worst team in Premier League history. 'Someone had us down for 10 points. Bit of a laughing stock. We have used that as a motivation to help keep us going. We are still light years away from securing our place in this division, but I am so proud of the way these players have responded to being disrespected like that. They have already doubled the lowest points total, and I am delighted for them.' (Daily Mail)

Blackpool v Manchester United clash called off as Britain's big freeze hits Premier League

This weekend's Barclays Premier League clash between Blackpool and Manchester United has been called off due to the freezing conditions at the Tangerines' Bloomfield Road ground. Temperatures dipped below minus eight on Thursday night meaning attempts to make the pitch playable, using protective covering and hot-air blowers, were in vain. The Seasiders expressed concerns over the state of the playing surface on Friday lunchtime, and the match was postponed later in the afternoon after match referee Peter Walton carried out a pitch inspection. No other games in the top flight have yet been called off. A statement on the club's website read: 'Mr Walton expressed concern that the severely affected areas of the playing surface would not thaw sufficiently for the game to be completed.' (Daily Mail)